Private Jacob Hodgson
This man was probably the Jacob Hodgson born on 15 December 1893 at Cockerstown, County Durham, the seventh or eighth of nine children of engineer's labourer Christopher Hodgson and his wife Elizabeth Jane (née Bland). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 44 Ridsdale Street, Darlington, County Durham, with his parents and two of his seven surviving siblings, and working as a general labourer and bottle washer.
Hodgson enlisted in the Dragoons of the Line in the early months of the war (No.5498). Posted to the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, he embarked for France in 1916 or the first half of 1917, probably at the end of June 1916, having been posted to the headquarters establishment of the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment following the formation of that regiment in France from C and F Squadrons and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron. The headquarters, formed in England and comprising 40 officers and men, joined the new regiment in France at the beginning of July.
The 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment served as corps cavalry to X Corps until August-September 1917, when the regiment was disbanded and its men were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Hodgson, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Hodgson was issued regimental number 41383.
He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.
Hodgson was wounded in the first half of 1918, probably in the fighting around Wulverghem and Mount Kemmel from 11 to 18 April.
After the war Hodgson returned to Darlington. He married Evelyn Jackson in late 1919. At the time of the 1939 Register they were living with their child Arthur at 20 Alexander Street, Darlington, Jacob working as a storeman. During World War 2 he served in the Durham Home Guard.